Over the last few months we have rewritten much of the NA-NET
system and moved it to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It is
running on the same machine that serves netlib@ornl.gov. We have
added a number of features, such as auto-joining and auto-address
changes. The message below describes the current system in place at
na-net.ornl.gov. You should switch to using the Oak Ridge NA-NET,
na-net.stanford.edu will be turned off soon.
The NA-NET originated at Stanford University by Gene Golub. Much of
the software we've used up to now was written by Mark Kent. The
Oak Ridge NA-NET operation will be under the direction of Jack Dongarra.
Bill Rosener of the University of Tennessee has rewritten the software.
Cleve Moler will continue to edit the NA-NET News Digest.
Beginning January 1, 1991 mail to na-net.stanford.edu will be forwarded
to na-net.ornl.gov for reforwarding.
MOTIVATION:
This mail facility was created to allow numerical analysts (na) an
easy method of communicating with one another. The main advantage
of the NA-NET is uniformity of addressing. All mail is addressed
to the Internet host "na-net.ornl.gov" at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory. Hence, members of the NA-NET do not need to remember
complicated addresses or even where a member is currently located.
As long as moving members change their e-mail address in the NA-NET
(see feature 5 below) everything works smoothly.
FEATURES:
========================================================================
A. NANET
========================================================================
1). Individual (unicast) messages
------------------
This is the most frequently used feature. Each member of the
NA-NET has a unique na-net name. This nanet name is usually
the same as the members last name. However, if there is more
than one member with the same last name then the first initial
is usually prepended to their last name to form their na-net name.
For example, if John Smith and Mark Smith both wanted to join the
na-net then mail addressed to "na.jsmith@na-net.ornl.gov" would
be used to send mail to John Smith and "na.msmith@na-net.ornl.gov"
would be used to send mail to Mark Smith.
2). NA-NET News Digest
------------------
Any mail sent to "na.digest@na-net.ornl.gov" will be considered
for distribution to all members of the NA-NET. About once a week
the Editor of the NA-NET News Digest will go over the messages which
have queued up, pick out the ones that are thought to be of general
interest to the numerical analysis and mathematical software
community, combine them in a News Digest format, and mail the
Digest to everyone on the mailing list.
3). Joining the NA-NET
------------------
To join the NA-NET send mail to "na.join@na-net.ornl.gov".
In the message body specify the following three fields.
Lastname:
Firstname:
E-mail:
The values can be specified in any order. The subject line of your
message is ignored. If there is a member of NA-NET with the same
lastname, then a message will be sent back to you. If this happens
try prepending your first initial to your last name. In this case
the "key" which identifies you will not be your lastname.
See Appendix A for an example on how to join the na-net.
4). Removing membership
-------------------
To remove your membership from the NA-NET send mail to
"na.remove@na-net.ornl.gov". In the message body specify
the following three fields.
Lastname:
Firstname:
Key:
The values can be specified in any order. Again the subject line
of your message is ignored. A message will be sent to both the
deleted address and the address making the request informing you
that your name has been removed. See Appendix A for an example
on how to remove your membership.
5). Changing e-mail address
-----------------------
To change your e-mail address send mail to "na.change@na-net.ornl.gov".
In the message body specify the following four fields.
Lastname:
Firstname:
New-address:
Key:
The values can be specified in any order. Again the subject line
of your message is ignored. A message will be sent to both the
old-address as well as the new-address informing you that the
change has taken place. See Appendix A for an example on how to
change your e-mail address.
6). Help
----
Questions and comments about the NA-NET should be addressed to:
nanet@na-net.ornl.gov
A person will read all mail messages within reason to this
account.
Mail sent to:
na.help@na-net.ornl.gov
will return the message you are currently reading.
7). Current list of all members
---------------------------
Mail sent to the following address will result in a mail message
being sent back to you containing all members of the NA-NET.
na.sendlist@na-net.ornl.gov
========================================================================
B. WHITEPAGES
========================================================================
The "whitepages" is a new feature which has been added to the NANET.
This facility is available to everyone. However, we would especially
encourage members of the NANET to join. Like any directory service,
it will only work if everybody takes a few moments to join, and then as
necessary updates their entry. Below is a short description of the
whitepages, and and how to use it.
FEATURES:
1). Querying the Database
---------------------
To find out information about a person send mail to
"na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov". In the message body or on the
subject line specify their firstname and lastname, or just
their lastname. The order of firstname and lastname does not
matter. See Appendix B for examples.
2). Joining the Whitepages
----------------------
To join the whitepages send mail to "na.join-wp@na-net.ornl.gov".
In the message body specify the two mandatory fields and as many of
the optional fields as you want.
Mandatory
============
Last_name:
First_name:
Optional Fields
===================
Middle_name:
Other_name:
Affiliation:
Office_address:
City_state_zip:
Country:
Office_phone:
Research:
Home_address:
Home_phone:
Fax:
E_mail_address:
Other:
The fields can be specified in any order. The subject line of your message
is ignored. All fields are entered into the database as characters. So spaces
can be used for readability. All fields (except first_name, last_name, and
middle_name) can be multiple lines. A multiple line field ends when the the
next keyword (e.g. "Country:") is found. Place a character at the end
of each line. In the rare exception that your first and last name combination
is not unique, send mail to "nanet@na-net.ornl.gov". We will manually insert
your name into the database despite the duplication. This should not cause
any problems for people querying the database for it is set up to return ALL
people with a given last name, first name, or combination. A message will
be sent back to you confirming the operation was successful. See Appendix B
for an example of joining the database.
3). Removing your entry
-------------------
To remove your entry from the NA-NET database send mail to
"na.remove-wp@na-net.ornl.gov". In the message body specify the
following two fields.
Last_name:
First_name:
The values can be specified in any order. Again the subject line of your
message is ignored. For security purpose, a confirmation message will be
sent to both the address requesting the removal, and also to the address
listed in the whitepages database. See Appendix B for an example of
removing your entry.
4). Changing fields
-----------------------
To change the value of a field or add to new field - send mail to
"na.change-wp@na-net.ornl.gov". In the message body specify the
following two fields plus the fields to be added or changed.
Last_name:
First_name:
The values can be specified in any order. Again the subject line
of your message is ignored. You cannot change your name. If you
wish to do so, first remove your entry and then rejoin with the new
name. If you wish to clear the value of a field, simply include the
field with no value. A message will be sent back to you confirming
the operation was successful. See Appendix B for an example on how
to change or add a field.
==========================================================================
Appendix A (NANET)
==========================================================================
Below are some real examples to give you an idea of how the NA-NET works.
1). For example, to mail to Gene Golub.
mail to: na.golub@na-net.ornl.gov
2). Mail sent to a nonexistent na-net name. For example,
mail sent to: na.abcde@na-net.ornl.gov
will result in the following message being returned to you.
-----------------------------------------------------------
NA-NET key not found. Message returned.
.
.
.
------------------------------------------------------------
3). Mail sent to a non-unique na-net name. For example,
mail sent to: na.fox@na-net.ornl.gov
will result in the following message being returned to you.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ambiguous key: try one of the following
fox, david = na.dfox
fox, phyl = na.pfox
fox, x = na.cfox
.
.
.
------------------------------------------------------------
4). An example of how Gene Golub would join the na-net.
mail na.join@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: anything
Lastname: golub
Firstname: gene
E-mail: golub@patience.stanford.edu
5). An example of how Mike Foobar would remove his membership
in the na-net.
mail na.remove@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: anything
Lastname: foobar
Firstname: mike
key: foobar
6). An example of how Mike Fox would change his e-mail address.
mail na.change@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: anything
Lastname: fox
Firstname: mike
New-address: mfox@new.address
key: mfox
============================================================================
Appendix B (WHITEPAGES)
============================================================================
Below are some real examples to give you an idea of how the whitepages works.
1). For example, to find out more about Bill Rosener. The software has
been written to understand many different forms. The following are
some of the acceptable forms.
---------------------------------------
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
Bill Rosener
---------------------------------------
OR
---------------------------------------
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
Rosener Bill
---------------------------------------
OR
---------------------------------------
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
whois Rosener Bill
---------------------------------------
OR
---------------------------------------
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: bill rosener
NUll body
---------------------------------------
OR
---------------------------------------
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: whois bill rosener
NUll body
---------------------------------------
OR
---------------------------------------
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
last-name: rosener
first-name: bill
---------------------------------------
A message similar to the following will then be returned.
==========================================================
Last Name: Rosener
First Name: Bill
Middle Name: J.
Affiliation: University of Tennessee
Office Address: Dept. of Computer Science; 107 Ayres Hall
City State Zip: Knoxville, TN 37996-1301
Country: U.S.A.
Office Phone: (615) 974-3647
Research: Highly-interactive, direct manipulation, << MULTIPLE-LINES >>
3D graphical interfaces.
Home Address: 1403 White Ave; Knoxville TN, 37916
Fax: 615-974-8296
E-mail Address: rosener@cs.utk.edu
Other: graduate student
Correct as of: Jun 1991
----------------------------------------------------------------
2). For example, to find out more information on all people
whose last name is "smith".
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
smith
3). For example, to find out more information on all people who are
interested in "parallel". This does a string comparison on all fields
other than the name fields searching for the pattern "parallel".
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
Keyword: parallel
4). For example, to find out more information on all people who live
in "Knoxville". This does a string comparison on all fields other
than the name fields searching for the pattern "Knoxville".
mail to: na.whois@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: "blank"
Keyword: Knoxville
5). An example of how Bill Rosener would join the whitepages.
mail na.join-wp@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: anything
Last_name: Rosener
First_name: Bill
Middle_name: J.
Affiliation: University of Tennessee
Office_address: Dept. of Computer Science; 107 Ayres Hall
City_state_zip: Knoxville, TN 37996-1301
Country: U.S.A.
Office_phone: (615) 974-3647
Research: Highly-interactive, direct manipulation,
3D graphical interfaces.
Home_address: 1403 White Ave; Knoxville TN, 37916
E_mail_address: rosener@cs.utk.edu
Other: graduate student
Note; The optional fields "Fax", "Home_phone", and "Other_name" were not
given. So people querying Bill Rosener will not find this information.
6). An example of how Mike Foobar would remove his entry from the whitepages.
mail na.remove-wp@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: anything
Last_name: foobar
First_name: mike
7). An example of how Mike Fox would change his E-mail address and
Fax number while also clearing his Home Phone number in the whitepages.
mail na.change-wp@na-net.ornl.gov
Subject: anything
Last_name: fox
First_name: mike
E_mail_address: fox@new.address
Home_phone:
Fax: (764) 285-4239
Jack Dongarra
University of Tennessee and
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
dongarra@cs.utk.edu